“Water God, has Kunpeng truly not died?”
“Just speculation, only speculation,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “Compared to Beast Master Kunpeng being killed so easily by us, I’m more inclined to believe the hypothesis that he’s still alive. So, being extra cautious is never wrong.”
“But this…”
Baize seemed to want to say something but held back, his face full of bitter smiles. He glanced into the depths of the Chaos Sea before lowering his head with a sigh.
Better to visit the Chaos Sea less in the future.
Being an auspicious beast in the primordial world was quite nice.
At that moment, Baize transformed to the size of an orange cat and elegantly jumped back onto Golden Peng’s head. Unlike his earlier proud ‘navigator’ demeanor, he now looked like frost-bitten eggplant, sinking into deep worry.
Li Changshou blinked and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
Fairy Yunxiao transmitted her voice to ask: “Were you deliberately scaring Sir Baize?”
“I can’t hide anything from you.”
Li Changshou exchanged a glance with Yunxiao, his eyes full of admiration, and transmitted back:
“The more experienced and capable a strategist like Sir Baize is, the more pride they have in their bones, the higher their aspirations. Moreover, Sir Baize has the Heavenly Dao ability to seek fortune and avoid calamity, making it easy to become dependent on this ability and misjudge certain matters. Creating a crisis for Sir Baize, one that his fortune-seeking ability cannot detect, will naturally make him more cautious. Sir Baize currently controls some of Heaven Court’s hidden forces. If a major mistake occurs, it could easily cost the Heaven Court its reputation. Besides, while the possibility of Kunpeng faking his death exists and there are indeed suspicious points… it’s still just speculation. If it’s true, Kunpeng probably just wanted to escape the Saints’ pursuit.”
Yunxiao showed a thoughtful expression and asked softly: “You arrange things so carefully for others, do you also scheme when dealing with me?”
“What need is there to scheme with you?”
Li Changshou smiled and said: “Actually, there is a need for planning—planning for the future, how to safely pass through this great tribulation.”
Her eyes curved in a smile, her frost-like skin blushing like morning clouds, her pure features truly as beautiful as a painting.
Li Changshou extended his right hand.
Yunxiao was slightly stunned, “What is it?”
“Making up for something,” Li Changshou said seriously, “Romance should proceed step by step. According to human customs, the first step should be holding hands.”
Seeing Li Changshou’s serious demeanor, Yunxiao didn’t doubt him and raised her left hand to place it in his.
But somehow, she unconsciously withdrew her slender hand slightly, frowning faintly and pressing her lips together, her eyes still carrying traces of a smile.
It felt like she’d been outmaneuvered.
Li Changshou declared righteously: “Surely you don’t think I’m taking advantage of you, Fellow Daoist?”
“Of course not…”
Yunxiao quickly defended herself, held her breath, and lightly touched Li Changshou’s palm with her fingertips.
Li Changshou smiled calmly, touched her palm in return, and in a flash caught her delicate hand as she tried to retreat. He gave it a gentle squeeze, making her ears turn red.
She had indeed fallen for his scheme.
To the side, Golden Peng secretly transmitted to the worried-looking Baize: “The Master is truly formidable.”
“Don’t try to copy this,” Baize transmitted back in low spirits, “Don’t randomly approach Heaven Court fairies with a righteous face asking them to extend their hands. Water God and Fairy Yunxiao are truly in love, the timing is just right.”
Golden Peng hurriedly said: “Sir Baize, don’t misunderstand, I’m not interested in women.”
Baize’s brows furrowed as he realized things weren’t so simple, and quietly added a layer of immortal power beneath his four hooves.
Then, Baize turned to look into the depths of the Chaos Sea…
Great danger.
If that old fox Kunpeng did fake his death, he might be brewing some grand scheme.
In the future, he should just honestly stay in areas covered by the Heavenly Dao, serve the Dao School, work for the Heaven Court, and firmly hold onto Water God’s support. Let those old fellows mock as they please.
What’s more important than life?
Baize sighed and zoned out for a while until he heard music from behind and realized Water God had a new approach.
Li Changshou said: “Since we still have a few days before returning, would you like to play the zither together?”
“I’ve always focused on cultivation and am not skilled in these matters.”
“I’ll teach you.”
Li Changshou took out an ancient zither, placing half on his knees and leaving half to the side.
Yunxiao understood his intention and moved closer to Li Changshou. With her feet together and body tilted, she perfectly supported the zither, unconsciously drawing nearer to Li Changshou.
Li Changshou pressed the strings while letting Yunxiao pluck them.
Though the notes were intermittent, under Li Changshou’s guidance they remained pleasant to hear, quickly getting Yunxiao interested as she played enthusiastically.
When she looked up to share a smile with Li Changshou, their shoulders were already touching, skin meeting skin, their immortal power gently pressing against each other.
Li Changshou glanced at the subsequent props he had prepared in his [Journey] treasure bag…
Reflecting on their Chaos Sea journey, Li Changshou roughly figured out Uncle Master Tongian’s intentions.
He had deliberately arranged the encounter with Kunpeng to let him and Yunxiao experience a ‘hard battle’ together and create precious memories of each other.
But why go to the Chaos Sea to develop feelings? Why arrange shared memories of fighting and killing?
True love lies in tranquility; genuine feelings grow with time.
The ‘passion’ born in crisis can easily be worn away by the mundaneness of endless time, leaving such feelings to only decline.
In the endless journey of cultivation, when recalling times spent together, which shows more intimacy—flashing blades and swords, or playing music together, taking walks, chatting, and playing around?
In matters of romance, high realm, and cultivation levels were just for fun.
In Bijiu Palace, on those white jade steps, Patriarch Tongian exclaimed at the expertise.
In Taiqing Temple, in that small shrine, Saint Taiqing’s lips curved in a faint smile as his finger tapped lightly.
Li Changshou, playing the zither with Yunxiao, suddenly felt something in his heart. He looked at Kunpeng’s jade ring that he had stored in his treasure bag, sent his immortal consciousness into it, and was startled.
That [Senior Wanderer’s Relic] was wrapped in yin-yang energy, blocking the external investigation.
This was his Master’s doing…
What were the layers of meaning here?
Li Changshou divided his attention, pondering why his Master had sealed this book while continuing his proper interactions with Yunxiao.
A strand of dark hair swayed gently before him, carrying a slight fragrance that Li Changshou found quite pleasant.
Approaching the primordial world, Li Changshou took another precaution.
He discussed with Baize for a while, took out one of his paper avatars, and placed Kunpeng’s jade ring within it.
Li Changshou and Baize spent half a day placing layers of seals on the paper avatar, ensuring it wouldn’t be corroded by chaos energy, then pushed it into the Chaos Sea.
This way, they could avoid extra attention from the Heavenly Dao while guarding against any other possible poison schemes from Kunpeng.
Li Changshou said: “To guard against Kunpeng possibly faking his death, after we return to the primordial world, remember not to mention this journey much, and don’t boast about it. This matter itself is quite suspicious. If Kunpeng truly planned this, keeping quiet about it will naturally foil his scheme. If Kunpeng didn’t plan this and truly died by our hands, then we’ve eliminated a great threat to the primordial world, letting his story quietly fade in the river of time.”
Golden Peng and Baize lowered their heads in acknowledgment. Fairy Yunxiao’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Li Changshou’s profile, seemingly in a pleasant mood, then turned to smile at the faintly visible Heavenly Dao barrier.
“Oh right,” Li Changshou smiled beside her, “Yunxiao, remember to report this matter to Third Uncle Master.”
Yunxiao immediately seemed lost in thought.
In Bijiu Palace, a certain Saint Lord’s figure vanished with a whoosh, and before Duobao Daoist could react, those three supreme immortal swords had disappeared into thin air.
“I’m going to search the Chaos Sea for our sect’s treasure. When Yunxiao arrives, remember to receive her.”
Duobao immediately put on a bitter face and sighed deeply while sitting on his cushion.
…
The paper avatar staying in the Chaos Sea with Kunpeng’s jade ring had another use.
A strand of immortal consciousness emerged from the paper avatar, entered Kunpeng’s jade ring, and condensed into Li Changshou’s phantom, sitting cross-legged before that ‘iron-ringed notebook,’ carefully sensing those two clusters of yin-yang energy.
Li Changshou quickly understood that Master Taiqing’s intervention wasn’t to prevent him from seeing the contents.
On the contrary, Master Taiqing used supreme methods to isolate Senior Wanderer’s relic from heaven and earth, allowing Li Changshou to freely take it back to the primordial world without worrying about Heavenly Dao surveillance.
As for Senior Wanderer’s relic, Li Changshou hesitated repeatedly…
After thorough consideration and careful deliberation.
Even if he learned too much information and understood the so-called truth, what could he change now?
Time cannot be reversed, the ancient times have passed, and Senior Wanderer has already lost. Opening this notebook now would, ultimately, only satisfy curiosity.
Curiosity about Senior Wanderer.
Could he bear the price of momentary curiosity?
Li Changshou thought carefully, his thoughts extremely complex, but finally reached out his hand.
Just a look.
Mainly to take it as a warning!
His immortal consciousness transformed into streams of light, penetrating that yin-yang energy cluster and the information in the notebook quickly appeared in Li Changshou’s mind.
For ceremony’s sake, Li Changshou specifically ‘imprinted’ the entire notebook, forming it into a book in his mind, held in his small spirit form’s hands, slowly opening it.
Here it comes! Here it comes!
The secrets of ancient times, the ancient anecdotes, the Ancestral Master’s lies, the truth of heaven and earth!
Everything is… right… there…
[Year Record One: The primordial world is truly wonderful.
Woke up after the creation of heaven and earth to find myself here, this body’s cultivation level is unexpectedly high, not bad, not bad, the cultivated second consciousness is also complete.
Should develop the habit of making year records every hundred years, to remind myself not to forget important matters.]
[Two: Little Nuwa has entered her rebellious phase. What’s this about? Witnessing how her ancestor makes humans from earth?]
[Three: Hongjun is indeed formidable, couldn’t beat him at fishing without using some tricks.]
[Four: The Heavenly Dao is becoming more perfect, can feel the rules and order in heaven and earth becoming much clearer. Good, Brother Pangu’s dying wish can be realized sooner.]
[Five: Nothing happened for a hundred years, played cards.]
[Six: Nothing happened for a thousand years, played cards.]
…
[Twenty-seven: Hongjun wants to unite all spirits to create a sacred race, to restrain the increasingly expanding demon tribe. They indeed need restraining—the biodiversity that the primordial world carefully nurtured since ancient times is almost eaten up by the demon tribe!
Calling them a sacred race instead of just a demon race is just gilding the lily.]
[Twenty-eight: Xihe is truly beautiful, that fellow Dijun got lucky.
If not for fear of affecting small stories like Houyi shooting the suns, how could you have gotten Xihe? This damn irresistible charm of mine, tsk, should I find a companion?
Forget it, wait for the human race, my future descendants would be better as humans.]
[Twenty-nine: Nothing happened in the recent three thousand years, played cards.]
…
[Forty-two: Hongjun’s teachings aren’t all that great, though he had a deeper understanding.
Just this level?
Back under the bridge, one yuan for three segments would still give seven maos in change!
Hongjun’s thinking just isn’t up to par, full of old ailments, hasn’t progressed at all since ancient times.]
…
[One-zero-nine: The human race has been born, little Nuwa has finally become a saint, showing some of my past glory.
Becoming a Heavenly Dao Saint means no transcendence, but my continuous accumulation isn’t bad either.
The Three Pure Ones are about to become saints, Taiqing has something special, actually able to deduce the original evolution of the Great Dao after the Heavenly Dao. Tongian’s explosive temper needs changing, or he’ll suffer later.]
…
[One-six-two: Xihe is truly beautiful, these pleasant three days and nights, that fellow Dijun got lucky.]
[One-six-three: The demon race and demon tribe have started conflicting, those demon ancestors are truly stubborn, insisting on randomly claiming responsibility for yesterday’s moon palace invasion, several of them at once.
It was just me alone!
If Dijun isn’t anxious, who is?
Should cut ties with Xihe from now on, she’s quite troubled too, my brief hundreds of years of feelings…
Sigh, should have acted first instead of worrying about future matters.
Depressed, finding someone to play cards.]
…
[Three-seven-two: These damn demon race members have indeed started crafting treasures to deal with the demon tribe, the human race will suffer disaster.
Can’t intervene this time either, the human race must survive this to become the true protagonists of heaven and earth.
Secretly protect a batch, and send them to settle in the Three Thousand Worlds.
After so many years, my dao heart still can’t be as hard as iron.]
[Three-seven-three: Took a good disciple, should be the future Fairy Chang’e.
That fellow Houyi seems to have become a great demon already, seems he’s even married, will this story not happen now?
Sigh, getting old mentally, even discovering the future Chang’e doesn’t stir any thoughts, can only take her as a disciple.
If anyone dares to have designs on my precious disciple in the future, breaking their legs, must break their legs.]
…
[Three-eight-two: Nothing happening recently, played cards.]
[Three-eight-three: Why?]
[Three-eight-four: This isn’t right.]
[Three-eight-five: Wrong, all wrong, shouldn’t be like this, I made a mistake.]
[Three-eight-six: No, Hongjun is wrong! That old man is full of evil schemes! I must do something.]
[Three-eight-seven…]
The content ended abruptly, half of the last page of this notebook had been torn off, revealing the complex structure within those thin pages.
Wrong?
What was wrong?
Li Changshou’s small spirit form shattered the notebook in his hands, falling into thought.
The notebook’s contents were mostly about playing cards, with many ancient anecdotes, recording all the famous scenes, and of course, Senior Wanderer’s romantic affairs.
Only Senior Wanderer would dare to steal the Demon Emperor’s love interest.
What left Shou most speechless was that he had succeeded…
This notebook had an iron ring structure, with unknown amounts of content after it, and the content with warning significance for himself was in the back.
Well, he had thought opening this notebook would provide some useful information, at least knowing Senior Wanderer’s surname and given name, which ancient figure he was.
But after reading it, Li Changshou could only smile wryly…
Who would write “I so-and-so” in their “diary”?
Such a diary wouldn’t be very proper.
Li Changshou pondered for a while, not getting much valuable information, his expectations largely unfulfilled.
Never mind, further investigation would be useless.
Li Changshou gathered his thoughts and began moving to the second scene after playing the zither together with Yunxiao.
Painting together.
Hands-on teaching, one-on-one guidance, making the most of his artistic advantages!
Baize returned to the Three Thousand Worlds halfway through, leaving with a dazed expression, sunken eye sockets, his eyes full of contemplative light—obvious early symptoms of persecution paranoia.
Regarding this, Li Changshou felt somewhat guilty, but for Baize’s development, he had to steel his heart.
He and the fairy parted at the East Sea, with him sending her back to the Three Immortal Islands.
When they parted, their gazes were full of reluctance. Li Changshou made a ceremonial bow, and Yunxiao slightly bowed before the thousand-mile clouds and mist, they gazed at each other for a while before finally turning to leave.
Ah…
Satisfying.
Li Changshou’s form disappeared into the East Sea, concealing his whereabouts and returning to the Crossing Immortal Gate.
Golden Peng had already returned to the Taibai Palace in the Heaven Court. He had gained the most this time, personally executing the Phoenix Clan’s traitor.
This gave Golden Peng an increasingly strong feeling of gratitude, so much that he quite wanted to do something for his master, but didn’t know where to start.
Speaking of reputation, his master was now revered by all immortals in the Heaven Court;
Speaking of strength, this time his master had confronted Beast Master Kunpeng before him, Sir Baize, and Fairy Yunxiao, using the Great Dao of Balance to equilibrate between himself and Kunpeng’s extreme speed, already beyond his comprehension.
As for treasures, there was no need to mention them—the Human Dao’s several supreme treasures were almost universally applicable, and that Soul-Piercing Lock that appeared and disappeared mysteriously to outmaneuver Kunpeng was incredibly sharp…
‘To express gratitude to Master, what gift should I give?’
In Taibai Palace, Golden Peng fell into deep thought.
As for Li Changshou, returning to Little Qiong Peak, he found Ling’e still in her enlightenment state.
Originally wanting to chat idly with Ling’e, Li Changshou could only suppress his desire to talk, sitting in his old position to meditate, and returning the Earth-Leaving Flame Banner and Heaven-Earth Ruler.
As if he had never left.
After another half month passed like this, light flashed around Ling’e’s body and spiritual energy surged like the tide as her small realm steadily improved, and she opened her eyes to look at her senior brother.
In the first instant, Ling’e was overjoyed, her cultivation had broken through, taking another small step closer to the Long Life Realm.
Though still far from it.
But in the next instant, Ling’e blinked.
“Senior Brother, why are there some wrinkles in your clothes?”
Li Changshou smiled and said: “Perhaps from sitting too long.”
Sniff, sniff sniff…
Ling’e sighed softly, her eyes losing their shine as she turned to look at the flowers and grass nearby, muttering quietly: “You have Sister Yunxiao’s scent on you.”
Li Changshou was shocked.
Before returning, he had burned away the surrounding aura several times with the Three-Realm True Flame!
Ling’e’s small mouth pouted, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at her senior brother pitifully.
“This, this,” Li Changshou had a bright ‘danger’ character hanging on his forehead, busying himself under the tree, taking half a day of explanation to finally console his junior sister.
Well, extreme joy begets sorrow.
But this time he was indeed in the wrong, so Li Changshou didn’t try to quibble.
Thus, moments later;
Ling’e put her hands on her slender waist and lightly humphed at Li Changshou:
“Senior Brother, you’re so unstable, going off like that, and then trying to hide the truth and deceive your junior sister, write the Stability Scripture… three… three hundred times!”
“Alright, alright,” Li Changshou casually summoned a stone tablet, “Invoking Senior Brother’s Order, let’s split it.”
Ling’e flashed to one side: “Senior Brother’s Order invalid! Rejected!”
Li Changshou spread his five fingers with an “Aiya!” Ling’e was pulled through the air to his side, and he stuffed a stone tablet into her arms.
Ling’e was rarely stubborn, refusing to yield, and the two played around under the tree for a while.
Until Ling’e fled with steam rising from her head, leaving Li Changshou speechless under the tree.
Just happened to hold hands a bit…
Raising his hand to sniff at his nose, Li Changshou’s eyes carried a warm smile as he sat under the tree looking at the stone tablet before him, lowering his head to begin carving the Stability Scripture, quietly pondering various matters.
Was Kunpeng truly as he had guessed?
Why did Senior Wanderer eventually turn against Ancestral Master Hongjun?
Would there be new variables in the Investiture of the God tribulation?
Starting now, closely watching the development of the Shang tribe would reveal the exact moment of the tribulation’s arrival, before that…
Dong!
Dong!
The urgent bell sounds suddenly rang through the mountain, and streams of light flew up from various peaks of the Crossing Immortal Gate, heading toward the Crossing Immortal Hall.
What urgent matter had occurred?
A strand of immortal consciousness followed along, naturally penetrating the formation of the Crossing Immortal Hall without hindrance, quietly waiting.
But before he could wait for Sect Leader Ji Wuyou to appear, a call rang in his heart…
“Elder Brother Master~ I’m about to face my Golden Immortal tribulation!”
Li Changshou’s spirit shook.
Ao Yi!